The strangest game in the Doom franchise, DOOM creator's original CD copies, but this is a little different. DOOM RPG was previously only available on cell phones that ed BREW or Java, so the game was nearly impossible to obtain before GEC.inc's source port.
Though DOOM RPG's gameplay was comparatively experimental and unorthodox, that's all the more reason to play it in 2022. Despite its platform, the game won several awards, including "2005 Adventure/RPG of the Year," "Game of the Year," an "Editor's Choice Award," and "Best Wireless Adventure Game." It also received largely positive critic reviews and even got a sequel four years later (which, sadly, is still locked to its original iOS platform and can't be played via this port because it uses a different engine).
Though it is odd that Id Software never rereleased DOOM RPG, it is somewhat of an outlier in the franchise, and the new PC port (as reported by DOOM and DOOM Eternal incorporated its environmental storytelling technique, though in a much more subtle way.
DOOM RPG Finally Has A Modern PC Port
The process of obtaining the game is a bit tricky, as the free Windows port GEC.inc created requires the game's original files to circumvent copyright issues. Finding a working cell phone from the mid-2000s that has DOOM RPG already installed isn't exactly easy, and any fan with a suitable phone wouldn't likely be able to access a working game marketplace. DOOM has plenty of fan-made patches and mods, but this is a trickier issue, so players may have to do their own research if they don't have an old phone with a copy of the game.
The PC port of DOOM RPG can supposedly be played with a keyboard, mouse, or console controller, and the interface is somewhat barebones. However, using a mouse is inefficient, so without a controller, players will likely prefer to confine themselves to the WASD control scheme. The tile-based movement system works like most similar dungeons crawlers and will be familiar to anyone that's played them, which means the game will likely appeal mostly to hardcore DOOM fans, video game historians, and those who enjoy old-school dungeon crawlers of this vein, but it might be a fun distraction for anyone waiting for id Software's newest DOOM game. Interested players should seize the opportunity to play an experimental and well-designed DOOM throwback on their PC if they have the means, especially since DOOM RPG isn't likely to get an official rerelease anytime soon.
Source: Ars Technica, GEC.inc/Twitter